Police officers across the nation are recognized in the middle of May during National Police Week, with the same time frame also used to remember the officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 12 held its annual police memorial service Thursday afternoon at the memorial site on the grounds of the Hopkinsville Police Department.
Fort Campbell Police Chief Keith Shumate said the police have a sense of purpose when it comes to protecting their communities and added that citizens should live with a purpose as well.
Assistant Christian County Attorney Lincoln Foster was the keynote speaker at the ceremony and said this is a week of recognition and remembrance.
For Foster, the job of the police hit home just over four years ago.
Quentin Stone, secretary of the FOP lodge, read off the roll call of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Christian County.
The FOP lodge laid a wreath at the memorial, the Christian County Jail Firing Party provided a three-volley salute, and the Pennyrile Honor Guard posted the colors and later moved them to half staff.
The annual service comes after a record number of police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2021, according to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund.
The numbers show there were 458 law enforcement officers killed with most losing their lives due to COVID-19 in 2021. That was an increase of 55-percent over the year before, making it the deadliest year on record.
